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The Lloydminster Salvation Army food bank is prepping for the holiday season.
While doing so, they are consistently helping those in need with an estimated 15,000 people served each week in Lloyd and area.
“We keep a careful watch on what goes in and out, and if we had to purchase the food that we give out, we would need $750,000 – $1M each year to operate efficiently,” said Major Bond Jennings of the Lloydminster Salvation Army in an email.
The organization is now booking appointments for those in need to apply for a Christmas hamper.
“As the individuals come in now for a regular hamper, we tell them if they’re thinking about Christmas and needing help they need to put their names in for that as well,” said Jennings, adding those who would like to apply can also call them at 780-875-9166.
“We’re going to be preparing for 500 (hampers) this year. I buy 90-95 per cent of the food for Christmas, if not all of it. So if I don’t use it all at Christmastime then I’ll stock for when January comes.”
Jennings says if anyone is looking for a way to help out, they need volunteers to help during their upcoming kettle fundraiser, which will run from Nov. 24 right up until Dec. 23.
“One of the biggest things that we need help with is our Christmas kettles. We need people to stand for a couple of hours at one of our locations and just help us raise the money that we need to fund the program—not only for Christmas but for the rest of the year,” said Jennings, adding anyone who can help out is encouraged to call them.
This year’s Christmas kettle locations are Canadian Tire, Sobeys, Wal-Mart, Superstore, and Co-op. They’ll be on location between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day and will have Tip Tap machines so people can use debit or credit as well as cash. This year’s goal is $80,000.
Another way to help is to make food donations. Items that are most used in hampers are rice, pasta, pasta sauce, canned meat, soups, canned vegetables and beans, hamburger helper, cereal, condiments, crackers, Kraft dinner, dry noodles, juice boxes, fruit cups, granola bars, and oatmeal packets.
The Salvation Army is very thankful to the community for their unwavering support.
“Individuals, businesses, organizations—they are really supportive of our work in the community, so we just really want to say a big thank you,” said Jennings.
“Their donations of food or monetary donations and also those who volunteer with us, go a long way in assisting us in helping those in our community who are facing food insecurity.”
